I think I'll go with a case-by-case basis for the affiliations.
Just gimme a list of affiliation score modifiers that you think your character can reasonably have fullfilled as a level 4-5 character, and I'll tell you which ones are okay and which ones are out of your league.
Sorry for the randomness, but there are so many different options over all the different affiliations that I don't think I can readily come up with a universal rule, so I'll look at it on a case by case basis.
EDIT: Just to be clear, Agita, your background and affiliation stuff is okay, except for the permanent followers
As for our own forum, do you think I should send AfterCrescent a nudge via PM?